System and method for providing a descriptive location of a user device

ABSTRACT

A system and method for providing a descriptive location of a first user device. The method includes: receiving a request to determine an updated descriptive location pointer for the second user device; receiving data associated with the first user device and at least one radio frequency (RF) signal; and determining an updated descriptive location pointer for the second user device based on a unique identifier collected by the first user device, the data associated with the first user device, and the at least one RF signal, wherein the unique identifier is created by the first user device based on data and RF signals received by the first user device during a learning phase, wherein the unique identifier is associated with at least one predetermined descriptive location pointer, wherein the updated descriptive location pointer is determined from among the at least one predetermined descriptive location pointer.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/663,469 filed on Jul. 28, 2017, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/367,656 filed on Jul. 28, 2016, thecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to location tracking, and morespecifically to identifying a location of a user device.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Due to the number of mobile phones and similar devices in use,particularly in developed countries, users can be connected to the WorldWide Web (WWW) from almost anywhere in the globe. Among the advantagesthat this brings, the ability to locate and identify a specific user'slocation is one of the most helpful. An example technology used forlocating users is the global positioning system (GPS), which can be usedto determine a current geographical location of a user device. Thislocation determination may be used for purposes such as, for example,navigation and emergency rescue services. To this end, accurateidentification of a user's current location is particularly important.

Specifically, when a person faces an emergency and calls an emergencyservices phone number, he or she is asked by an emergency dispatcher toprovide an address in order to assist the dispatcher in locating thescene of the emergency. However, the address may be unknown to theperson, or the person may otherwise be unable to provide the address. Insuch instances, a GPS on the person's mobile device may be utilized bythe dispatcher to locate the person and render emergency aid.

Existing solutions for location identification provide various methodsfor estimating locations of mobile devices in open and closedenvironments. Many of these solutions are executed using locationpointers of the user's estimated location that are displayed on mapssuch as, for example, virtual maps, graphical maps, metric maps, and thelike. Some indoor positioning systems use preconfigured maps thatinclude visual characteristics of a certain location such as anapartment, a building complex, etc. Other indoor positioning systemsgenerate maps using signals that are transmitted by a user deviceassociated with a user while the user walks through a location.

The existing solutions for location identification can be inaccurate,especially when used for indoor navigation. More specifically, theseexisting solutions may not be able to precisely determine a locationwithin a building, and may face further challenges in determiningaltitude/height within a building. Further, existing solutions cannotidentify precise indoor locations such as floors, rooms, or addresseswithin a building (e.g., an apartment number or address). Such preciseindoor locations may be critical in densely populated areas, whereemergency services cannot efficiently respond without knowing the targetlocation within a building.

It would therefore be advantageous to provide a solution that wouldovercome the challenges noted above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A summary of several example embodiments of the disclosure follows. Thissummary is provided for the convenience of the reader to provide a basicunderstanding of such embodiments and does not wholly define the breadthof the disclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview of allcontemplated embodiments, and is intended to neither identify key orcritical elements of all embodiments nor to delineate the scope of anyor all aspects. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one ormore embodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detaileddescription that is presented later. For convenience, the term “someembodiments” or “certain embodiments” may be used herein to refer to asingle embodiment or multiple embodiments of the disclosure.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein include a method for providing adescriptive location of a first user device. The method comprises:receiving a request to determine an updated descriptive location pointerfor the second user device; receiving data associated with the firstuser device and at least one radio frequency (RF) signal; anddetermining an updated descriptive location pointer for the second userdevice based on a unique identifier collected by the first user device,the data associated with the first user device, and the at least one RFsignal, wherein the unique identifier is created by the first userdevice based on data and RF signals received by the first user deviceduring a learning phase, wherein the unique identifier is associatedwith at least one predetermined descriptive location pointer, whereinthe updated descriptive location pointer is determined from among the atleast one predetermined descriptive location pointer.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein also include a non-transitorycomputer readable medium having stored thereon causing a processingcircuitry to execute a process for providing a descriptive location of afirst user device, the process comprising: receiving a request todetermine an updated descriptive location pointer for the second userdevice; receiving data associated with the first user device and atleast one radio frequency (RF) signal; and determining an updateddescriptive location pointer for the second user device based on aunique identifier collected by the first user device, the dataassociated with the first user device, and the at least one RF signal,wherein the unique identifier is created by the first user device basedon data and RF signals received by the first user device during alearning phase, wherein the unique identifier is associated with atleast one predetermined descriptive location pointer, wherein theupdated descriptive location pointer is determined from among the atleast one predetermined descriptive location pointer.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein also include a system for providinga descriptive location of a first user device. The system comprises: aprocessing circuitry; and a memory, the memory containing instructionsthat, when executed by the processing circuitry, configure the systemto: receiving a request to determine an updated descriptive locationpointer for the second user device; receiving data associated with thefirst user device and at least one radio frequency (RF) signal; anddetermining an updated descriptive location pointer for the second userdevice based on a unique identifier collected by the first user device,the data associated with the first user device, and the at least one RFsignal, wherein the unique identifier is created by the first userdevice based on data and RF signals received by the first user deviceduring a learning phase, wherein the unique identifier is associatedwith at least one predetermined descriptive location pointer, whereinthe updated descriptive location pointer is determined from among the atleast one predetermined descriptive location pointer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter disclosed herein is particularly pointed out anddistinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification.The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of thedisclosed embodiments will be apparent from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a network diagram utilized to describe the various disclosedembodiments.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an agent configured according to anembodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing a descriptivelocation of a user device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a location identifier according to anembodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

It is important to note that the embodiments disclosed herein are onlyexamples of the many advantageous uses of the innovative teachingsherein. In general, statements made in the specification of the presentapplication do not necessarily limit any of the various claimedembodiments. Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventivefeatures but not to others. In general, unless otherwise indicated,singular elements may be in plural and vice versa with no loss ofgenerality. In the drawings, like numerals refer to like parts throughseveral views.

The various disclosed embodiments include a method and system forproviding a descriptive location. One or more initial descriptivelocation pointers associated with the tracked UD are received orretrieved. During a learning phase, data associated with the tracked UDand radio frequency (RF) signals from RF signal transmitters arereceived and analyzed to create unique identifiers for each initialdescriptive location pointers. During a tracking phase, when an updateddescriptive location pointer is required, RF signals and data associatedwith the tracked UD are received at a descriptive location tracker froma reference UD. The updated descriptive location pointer is determinedbased on comparison of the data associated with the tracked UD data ofthe RF signals received during the tracking phase with the uniqueidentifier.

During the learning phase, data associated with the tracked UD and theRF signals may be received when a trigger event is detected by thetracked UD. To this end, the tracked UD may be configured to analyzedata associated with the tracked UD continuously, for example,repeatedly at predetermined time intervals. The time intervals may besufficiently frequent such that the user's movements are tracked as theyoccur. For example, a trigger event may be movement of the tracked UD,lack of movement of the tracked UD for a threshold period of time, aconnection to a new network, and the like.

The data associated with the tracked UD and of the RF signals receivedduring the learning phase can be continuously analyzed to create theunique identifier for the tracked UD. The continuous analysis may beperformed, e.g., repeatedly at predetermined time intervals based on themost recently received data associated with the tracked UD and RFsignals, thereby allowing for creation of a unique identifier for eachinitial descriptive location pointer. For example, if two users oftracked user devices are living in the same house, when entering theinitial descriptive location pointer, both will have the same addressand therefore the location, for example their apartment, will have thesame unique identifier.

In various embodiments, the updated descriptive location pointer may beprovided to a client device operated by an entity that utilizesknowledge of the location of the tracked UD. Such a client device maybe, for example, a client device operated by an emergency servicesdispatcher, a server of a social media network, and the like. Thus, theupdated descriptive location pointers may be utilized to alert otherentities about the precise location of the user for purposes such asrendering emergency aid and informing other social media users of thelocation of a particular user. In a further embodiment, the updateddescriptive location pointers may be collected and aggregated. In yet afurther embodiment, the aggregated descriptive location pointers may beutilized to generate and display, on a client device, a descriptivelocation map indicating the descriptive location pointers of one or moreusers.

The embodiments disclosed herein allow for more accurate and preciseidentification of user locations with respect to user devices. Inparticular, the descriptive location pointers determined as describedherein may provide more specific locations than, for example, usingglobal positioning systems alone. More specifically, the descriptivelocation pointers may indicate user device locations with respect toparticular buildings, floors, apartments, rooms, or other relativeindoor locations of user devices, whereas solutions such as globalpositioning systems may provide location pointers that only indicategeographic locations without details related to particular buildings orother indoor locations. Such specific locations may be critical for,e.g., emergency aid personnel needing to know in which rooms,apartments, or floors, are people in need of aid, particularly in moredensely populated urban areas. Further, the descriptive locationpointers determined as described herein may be more accurate than atleast some existing solutions, particularly with respect to altitude.

FIG. 1 shows an example network diagram 100 utilized to describe thevarious disclosed embodiments. In the example network diagram 100, atracked user device (UD) 120-1, a reference UD 120-2, a client device130, a database 140, and a descriptive location tracker 150, arecommunicatively connected via a network 110. The network 110 may be, butis not limited to, a wireless, cellular or wired network, a local areanetwork (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metro area network (MAN),the Internet, the worldwide web (WWW), similar networks, and anycombination thereof.

Each of the UDs 120-1 and 120-2 may be, but is not limited to, apersonal computer (PC), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobilephone, a smart phone, a tablet computer, a wearable computing device andother kinds of wired and mobile appliances, equipped with capabilitiesthat are enabled as further discussed herein below. Each UD 120-1 or120-2 may have installed thereon an agent 125. The agent 125 may beconfigured to transmit indoor location pointers, transmit outdoorlocation pointers, identify radio frequency (RF) signals transmitted bya RF signal transmitter device 160, a combination thereof, and the like.

In an example implementation, the tracked UD 120-1 is a UD for whichdescriptive location pointers are determined. The tracked UD 120-1 isconfigured to receive user inputs from a user of the tracked UD 120-1and to determine, based on the user inputs, one or more initialdescriptive location pointers associated with the tracked UD 120-1. Forexample, the user inputs may indicate the user's home address and theuser's office address. As another example, the user inputs may indicatean apartment number on a specific floor of a building.

The tracked UD 120-1 includes a RF signal receiver (not shown) such thatthe tracked UD 120-1 may be configured to receive RF signals from one ormore RF signal transmitter devices including the RF signal transmitterdevice 160. Further, the agent 125-1 may be configured to only identifyRF signals received from a RF signal transmitter device within athreshold signal receiving distance. For example, the agent 125-1 may beconfigured to only identify RF signals received from a RF signaltransmitter within 5 meters from the tracked UD 120-1.

During a learning phase, the tracked UD 120-1 is configured to create aunique identifier for one of the initial descriptive location pointerswith respect to the RF signal transmitter device 160 based on dataassociated with the tracked UD 120-1 and RF signals received by thetracked UD 120-1 from the RF signal transmitter device 160. The RFsignals and data associated with the tracked UD 120-1 may be analyzedcontinuously, or may be analyzed when the tracked UD 120-1 detects atrigger event. The trigger event may be, but is not limited to, lack ofmovement for a threshold amount of time (e.g., at least 16 hours),connection of the tracked UD 120-1 to an unfamiliar or new Wi-Finetwork, a threshold movement (e.g., as indicated by an accelerometer orglobal positioning system of the UD 120-1), and the like. To this end,the trigger event may be detected based on data from a sensor, serviceor network adapter of the tracked UD 120-1 such as, for example, anaccelerometer, a gyroscope, a global positioning system (GPS), a Wi-Fiadapter, Bluetooth, and the like.

The associated data may indicate for example, movement of the tracked UD120-1 from the initial descriptive location pointer, lack of movementfrom the location indicated by the tracked UD location pointer, and thelike. To this end, the associated data may include, but is not limitedto, a distance traveled by the tracked UD 120-1 (e.g., as indicated byGPS signals), connection of the tracked UD 120-11 to a new Wi-Finetwork, an amount of time elapsed since last movement (e.g., an amountof time since one or more sensor signals associated with movement abovea threshold was received), and the like.

The client device 130 may be, but is not limited to, a personal computer(PC), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, a smart phone,a tablet computer, a server, and any other device equipped withcommunication capabilities allowing for receiving descriptive locationpointers, and may be further configured with a display for displayingreceived location pointers. The client device 130 may be operated by anentity requiring accurate knowledge of the location tracked UD 120-1such as, for example, an emergency services dispatcher communicatingwith the user of the tracked UD 120-1 to send emergency aid to theuser's location. The emergency services dispatcher may be, for example,a police dispatcher, a municipal dispatcher, and the like.Alternatively, the client device 130 may be utilized by a social mediaplatform to identify locations of users of a social media service.

The RF signal transmitter device 160 is an electronic device thatincludes a RF signal transmitter (not shown) and may be, but is notlimited to, a mobile device, a cellular phone, a computer, a router, asmart TV, a Wi-Fi printer, and the like. In some implementations, the RFsignal transmitter device 160 may be or may be included in a UD (e.g.,the reference UD 120-2). The RF signal transmitter device 160 isassociated with one of the initial descriptive location pointers of thetracked UD 120-1.

The database 140 stores the unique identifier and the initialdescriptive location pointers. The unique identifier is associated withone of the initial descriptive location pointers determined by thetracked UD 120-1. The unique identifier and associated initialdescriptive location pointer may be utilized by the descriptive locationtracker 150 to identify the updated descriptive location pointer asdescribed herein.

In an embodiment, the descriptive location tracker 150 is configured toreceive, from the agent 125-1 of the tracked UD 120-1, one or moreinitial descriptive location pointers. Alternatively, the descriptivelocation tracker 150 may be configured to retrieve the initialdescriptive location pointers from the database 140. In anotherembodiment, the initial descriptive location pointers may be retrievedfrom a data source (not shown) such as a database, a web source (e.g., aserver accessible over the Internet), and the like. The data source maybe, for example, a regulatory database storing location pointers of userdevices.

In yet another embodiment, the descriptive location tracker 150 isconfigured to receive each initial descriptive location pointer from anelectronic device including an RF signal transmitter (e.g., the RFsignal transmitter device 160), such as for example, a router thattransmits RF signals), to which the tracked UD 120-1 is communicativelyconnected. To this end, the electronic device may store the initialdescriptive location pointer of the tracked UD 120-1 and, therefore, theuser is not required to enter the initial descriptive location pointerto the tracked UD 120-1.

Each initial descriptive location pointer indicates a locationassociated with the tracked UD 120-1 and may be, but is not limited to,a known descriptive location of the tracked UD 120-1. To this end, eachinitial descriptive location pointer may be a previously determineddescriptive location pointer for the tracked UD 120-1, or may beprovided directly by, e.g., the user of the tracked UD 120-1 (e.g., byinputting the initial descriptive location pointer to the agent 125 viaa user interface of the tracked UD 120-1). The initial descriptivelocation pointer may be a descriptive location and may indicate, but isnot limited to, a home address, an office address, a street name, ahouse number, a floor, an apartment number, a room number, a combinationthereof, and the like. In an example implementation, the initialdescriptive location pointer may be the most specific location of thetracked UD 120-1. For example, the initial descriptive location pointermay indicate a room number on a particular floor of a specific building.

During a tracking phase, the descriptive location tracker 150 isconfigured to analyze data and RF signals received by the reference UD120-2, and to compare the results of the analysis to the uniqueidentifier in order to determine an updated descriptive location pointerfrom among the initial descriptive location pointers. The data and RFsignals received by the reference UD 120-2 may be received from a devicein proximity to the reference UD 120-2 such as the tracked UD 120-1, theRF signal transmitter device 160, or both. The comparison may beperformed when, for example, a request for an updated descriptivelocation pointer is received via the application 125-2. For example, ifa user of the reference device 120-2 finds the user of the tracked UD120-1 in need of emergency aid but does not know his or her preciselocation, the reference UD 120-2 may send a request for an updateddescriptive location pointer as well as data and RF signals collected atthe scene to the descriptive location tracker 150. The descriptivelocation tracker 150 is configured to match the information indicated inthe received data and RF signals to the unique identifier, therebyidentifying an updated descriptive location pointer indicating theprecise current location of the user of the tracked UD 120-1.

To this end, the descriptive location tracker 150 is configured todetermine when an updated descriptive location pointer is required to besent, e.g., to the client device 130, to the tracked UD 120-1, and thelike, and if so, to send the updated descriptive location pointer. Theupdated descriptive location pointer may be required to be sent when,for example, a request is received from a user (e.g., of the clientdevice 130, of the tracked UD 120-1, or of the reference UD 120-2),based on one or more environmental variables and updated locationpointer provision rules, and the like. The request may be, but is notlimited to, a request for reporting data, a query for positioning, anapplication programming interface (API) request, and the like. Theupdated location pointer provision rules may indicate environmentalvariables that may require, for example, emergency services, such asimmobility of the tracked UD 120-1 for more than 12 hours.

In another example implementation, the descriptive location tracker 150may be configured to automatically provide updated descriptive locationpointers to, e.g., a social media network, thereby allowing for updatinglocation statuses of users automatically. Further, the updateddescriptive location pointers may be provided automatically when, forexample, the tracked UD 120-1 arrives at a particular location, therebyalerting other users to the arrival of the user of the tracked UD 120-1.

It should be noted that the embodiments described herein above withrespect to FIG. 1 are discussed with respect to one tracked user device120-1 as well as one client device 130 merely for simplicity purposesand without limitation on the disclosed embodiments. Descriptivelocation pointers of multiple tracked UDs may be determined based onrespective unique identifiers created by different tracked UDs duringthe learning phase, and each updated description location pointer may besent to one or more client devices, without departing from the scope ofthe disclosed embodiments. Moreover, the updated descriptive locationpointer determined for the reference UD 120-2 may be sent to thereference UD 120-2, thereby allowing the reference UD 120-2 to utilizeor cause display of the descriptive location.

It should also be noted that multiple RF signal transmitter devices maybe equally utilized as described herein above in order to, for example,transmit RF signals to the tracked UD 120-1 as the tracked UD 120-1moves among the initial descriptive location pointers provided by theuser of the tracked UD 120-1 in order to create a unique identifier thatassociates each RF signal transmitter device with one of the initialdescriptive location pointers provided by the user of the tracked UD120-1, thereby allowing for uniquely determining the updated descriptivelocation pointer for the reference UD 120-2 based on data and RF signalscollected by the reference UD 120-2 at the location of the tracked UD120-1, the RF signal transmitter 160, or both.

FIG. 2 is an example schematic diagram of an agent 125 installed on auser device according to an embodiment. In an example implementation,the agent 125 may be the agent 125-1 of the user device 120-1.

The agent 125 includes a network interface 210, a user interface 220, aposition data collection unit 230, a radio frequency (RF) signalidentification unit 240, a descriptive location pointer generation unit250, and a RF signal trigger detector 260. The network interface 210 isconfigured to allow the agent 125 to communicate with the client device130, the descriptive location tracker 150, or both. The user interface220 is configured to receive inputs from the user of the tracked UD120-1 such as, but not limited to, inputs indicating initial descriptivelocation pointers.

The position data collection unit 230 is configured to collect the dataassociated with the tracked UD 120-1 from one or more sensors (notshown) or adapters of the tracked UD 120-1. The RF signal identificationunit 240 is configured to identify RF signals from RF signaltransmitters in proximity to the tracked UD 120-1. The RF signalidentification unit 240 may be configured to identify only RF signalsreceived from RF signal transmitters within a threshold distance, e.g.,3 meters.

The descriptive location pointer generator 250 is configured togenerate, based on user inputs received via the user interface 220, theinitial descriptive location pointer for the tracked UD 120-1. The RFsignal trigger detector 260 is configured to detect triggers forbeginning RF signal collection. To this end, the RF signal triggerdetector 260 is configured to receive signals from sensors, networkadapters, or both, of the tracked UD 120-1, and to detect trigger eventsbased on the received signals. To this end, the RF signal triggerdetector 260 may include or be communicatively connected to, anaccelerometer, a gyroscope, a barometer, a GPS, a Bluetooth adapter, aWi-Fi adapter, an internal measurement unit (IMU), a combinationthereof, and the like. When a trigger event is detected by the RF signaltrigger detector 260, the RF signal identification unit 240 isconfigured to begin identifying RF signals from proximate RF signaltransmitters.

FIG. 3 is an example flowchart 300 illustrating a method for providing adescriptive location of a user device. In an embodiment, the method isperformed by a server such as the descriptive location tracker 150 toprovide a descriptive location of the tracked UD 120-1 to, for example,the tracked UD 120-1 or the client device 130.

At S310, an initial descriptive location pointer is received orretrieved. The initial descriptive location pointer may be received froman agent (e.g., the agent 125) of the tracked UD 120-1, may be retrievedfrom a database or data source, may be retrieved from an electronicdevice including an RF signal transmitter (e.g., a router), and thelike. The initial descriptive location pointer may be an indoor locationpointer indicating a specific indoor location such as, for example, aparticular room, floor, building, apartment, address a combinationthereof, and the like.

At S320, during a learning phase, data associated with the tracked UD120-1 and RF signals transmitted by a RF signal transmitter in physicalproximity to the tracked UD 120-1 are received by the tracked UD 120-1.The data and RF signals received during the learning phase may bereceived continuously (e.g., repeatedly at predetermined timeintervals), or may be received when a trigger event is detected. Thetrigger event may be detected, for example, by the agent 125-1 of thetracked UD 120-1. The data associated with the tracked UD 120-1 mayinclude, but is not limited to, GPS signals, connection data, time data,and the like. The RF signal transmitter is in physical proximity to thetracked UD 120-1

At S330, the data associated with the tracked UD 120-1 and RF signalsare analyzed by the tracked UD 120-1 to create a unique identifier to beassociated with the tracked UD 120-1. The unique identifier is for oneof the received initial descriptive location pointers, thereby allowingfor determination of an updated descriptive location pointer based onidentification of the unique identifier. In an embodiment, S330 furtherincludes sending the created unique identifier and the initialdescriptive location pointer to the descriptive location tracker 150.

Determining the location pointer based on a unique identifier associatedwith a known initial descriptive location pointer allows for providingupdated descriptive location pointers that literally describe theprecise location of the user, i.e., such that the descriptive locationpointer can be readily interpreted by a user.

At S340 it is determined that an updated descriptive location pointerfor the reference UD 120-2 is required to be sent by the updateddescriptive location tracker 150. The determination may be based on, forexample, receipt of a request for the updated descriptive locationpointer (e.g., from a client device operated by an emergency servicesdispatcher requiring the indoor location of the user of the tracked UD120-1), based on environmental variables related to the tracked UD 120-1and one or more updated location rules, and the like.

At S350, during a tracking phase, when it is determined that the updateddescriptive location pointer is required to be sent, the updateddescriptive location pointer is determined by the descriptive locationtracker 150. In an embodiment, the determination is based on the uniqueidentifier as well as data and RF signals received by the reference UD120-2 when the reference UD 120-2 is in proximity (e.g., within apredetermined threshold distance) to the tracked UD 120-1 or the RFsignal transmitter 160. To this end, the determination may includecomparing the unique identifier to the information indicated in the dataand RF signals received by the reference UD 120-2. Determining theupdated descriptive location pointer based on a unique identifierassociated with a known initial descriptive location pointer allows formore accurate and precise identification of a current location of adevice than, for example, using GPS data alone, particularly for indoorlocations.

At S360, the updated descriptive location pointer is sent to, forexample, the requesting device, or to another device indicated in therequest. For example, if the user of the reference UD 120-2 requestedthe updated descriptive location pointer be sent to a client device viathe app 125-2, the updated descriptive location pointer may be sent tothe client device. The client device may be, for example, a clientdevice of an emergency dispatch unit that is operated by an emergencyservices dispatcher to receive reports of emergencies.

FIG. 4 is an example schematic diagram of a descriptive location tracker150 according to an embodiment. The descriptive location tracker 150includes a processing circuitry 410 coupled to a memory 415, a storage420, and a network interface 430. In an embodiment, the components ofthe descriptive location tracker 150 may be communicatively connectedvia a bus 440.

The processing circuitry 410 may be realized as one or more hardwarelogic components and circuits. For example, and without limitation,illustrative types of hardware logic components that can be used includefield programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific integratedcircuits (ASICs), Application-specific standard products (ASSPs),system-on-a-chip systems (SOCs), general-purpose microprocessors,microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), and the like, or anyother hardware logic components that can perform calculations or othermanipulations of information.

The memory 415 may be volatile (e.g., RAM, etc.), non-volatile (e.g.,ROM, flash memory, etc.), or a combination thereof. In oneconfiguration, computer readable instructions to implement one or moreembodiments disclosed herein may be stored in the storage 420.

In another embodiment, the memory 415 is configured to store software.Software shall be construed broadly to mean any type of instructions,whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode,hardware description language, or otherwise. Instructions may includecode (e.g., in source code format, binary code format, executable codeformat, or any other suitable format of code). The instructions, whenexecuted by the one or more processors, cause the processing circuitry410 to perform the various processes described herein. Specifically, theinstructions, when executed, cause the processing circuitry 410 toperform location identification, as discussed herein.

The storage 420 may be magnetic storage, optical storage, and the like,and may be realized, for example, as flash memory or other memorytechnology, CD-ROM, Digital Versatile Disks (DVDs), or any other mediumwhich can be used to store the desired information.

The network interface 430 allows the descriptive location tracker 150 tocommunicate with the tracked UD 120-1, the reference UD 120-2, theclient device 130, the database 140, or a combination of, for thepurpose of, for example, receiving location pointers and related data,receiving RF signals, receiving unique identifiers, sending descriptivelocation pointers, and the like.

It should be understood that the embodiments described herein are notlimited to the specific architecture illustrated in FIG. 4, and otherarchitectures may be equally used without departing from the scope ofthe disclosed embodiments. For example, the components of thedescriptive location tracker 150 may be included in the user device120-1 or the client device 130 such that the respective device may beconfigured to perform location identification as described herein.

The various embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented as hardware,firmware, software, or any combination thereof. Moreover, the softwareis preferably implemented as an application program tangibly embodied ona program storage unit or computer readable medium consisting of parts,or of certain devices and/or a combination of devices. The applicationprogram may be uploaded to, and executed by, a machine comprising anysuitable architecture. Preferably, the machine is implemented on acomputer platform having hardware such as one or more central processingunits (“CPUs”), a memory, and input/output interfaces. The computerplatform may also include an operating system and microinstruction code.The various processes and functions described herein may be either partof the microinstruction code or part of the application program, or anycombination thereof, which may be executed by a CPU, whether or not sucha computer or processor is explicitly shown. In addition, various otherperipheral units may be connected to the computer platform such as anadditional data storage unit and a printing unit. Furthermore, anon-transitory computer readable medium is any computer readable mediumexcept for a transitory propagating signal.

All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended forpedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principlesof the disclosed embodiment and the concepts contributed by the inventorto furthering the art, and are to be construed as being withoutlimitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions.Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, andembodiments of the disclosed embodiments, as well as specific examplesthereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functionalequivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalentsinclude both currently known equivalents as well as equivalentsdeveloped in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform thesame function, regardless of structure.

It should be understood that any reference to an element herein using adesignation such as “first,” “second,” and so forth does not generallylimit the quantity or order of those elements. Rather, thesedesignations are generally used herein as a convenient method ofdistinguishing between two or more elements or instances of an element.Thus, a reference to first and second elements does not mean that onlytwo elements may be employed there or that the first element mustprecede the second element in some manner. Also, unless statedotherwise, a set of elements comprises one or more elements.

As used herein, the phrase “at least one of” followed by a listing ofitems means that any of the listed items can be utilized individually,or any combination of two or more of the listed items can be utilized.For example, if a system is described as including “at least one of A,B, and C,” the system can include A alone; B alone; C alone; A and B incombination; B and C in combination; A and C in combination; or A, B,and C in combination.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for determining a current location of atracked user device based on data of another user device, comprising:gathering a plurality of unique location identifiers, each of theplurality of unique location identifiers is created from at least oneradio frequency (RF) signal captured in a location pointed by one of aplurality of descriptive location pointers by a user device; sending,during a tracking phase, a request to determine an updated descriptivelocation for a tracked user device, the tracked user device is differentfrom the user device; receiving an additional unique location identifierof at least one additional RF signal captured by the tracked user deviceduring the tracking phase; and identifying, during the tracking phase,an updated descriptive location pointer indicating a current location ofthe tracked user device based on an outcome of a learning phase analysisof the plurality of unique location identifiers and the additionalunique location identifier; wherein the updated descriptive locationpointer is one of the plurality of descriptive location pointers.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the plurality of unique location identifiersare collected, during the learning phase, in response to a detection ofa trigger event.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the trigger event isan outcome of a detection of movement of a monitored user device from amonitored location.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the trigger eventis an outcome of a detection of a lack of movement of the tracked userdevice for at least a period of time.
 5. The method of claim 2, whereinthe trigger event is an outcome of an identification of an updatednetwork connection with the tracked user device.
 6. The method of claim1, wherein the plurality of descriptive location pointers are determinedbased on user inputs received using the user device.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein data associated with the tracked user device and the atleast one additional RF are received from another user device when theanother user device is in proximity to a member of a group consistingof: the tracked user device, an RF signal transmitter device thattransmitted at least a portion of at least one additional RF during thelearning phase.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the updateddescriptive location pointer is an indoor location pointer.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the updated descriptive location pointer isof a member of a group consisting of: a street name, a street number, abuilding number, a floor, an apartment number, and a room number. 10.The method of claim 1, wherein the request is provided by an emergencydispatcher unit operated by an emergency service.
 11. The method ofclaim 1, wherein additional unique location identifier is received froma user device in proximity to the tracked user device.
 12. Anon-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereoninstructions for determining a current location of a tracked user devicebased on data of another user device, the process comprising: gatheringa plurality of unique location identifiers, each of the plurality ofunique location identifiers is created from at least one radio frequency(RF) signal captured in a location pointed by one of a plurality ofdescriptive location pointers by a user device; sending, during atracking phase, a request to determine an updated descriptive locationfor a tracked user device, the tracked user device is different from theuser device; receiving an additional unique location identifier of atleast one additional RF signal captured by the tracked user deviceduring the tracking phase; and identifying, during the tracking phase,an updated descriptive location pointer indicating a current location ofthe tracked user device based on an outcome of a learning phase analysisof the plurality of unique location identifiers and the additionalunique location identifier; wherein the updated descriptive locationpointer is one of the plurality of descriptive location pointers.
 13. Asystem for determining a descriptive location of a second user devicebased on data of a first user device, comprising: at least oneprocessor; and a database comprising a plurality of unique locationidentifiers, each of the plurality of unique location identifiers iscreated from at least one radio frequency (RF) signal captured in alocation pointed by one of a plurality of descriptive location pointersby a user device; a network interface configured for: sending, during atracking phase, a request to determine an updated descriptive locationfor a tracked user device, the tracked user device is different from theuser device; receiving an additional unique location identifier of atleast one additional RF signal captured by the tracked user deviceduring the tracking phase; and a memory containing instructions that,when executed by the at least one processor, configure the system toidentify, during the tracking phase, an updated descriptive locationpointer indicating a current location of the tracked user device basedon an outcome of a learning phase analysis of the plurality of uniquelocation identifiers and the additional unique location identifier;wherein the updated descriptive location pointer is one of the pluralityof descriptive location pointers.